Coincidentally, we went to the bottom of the ladders today and I can confirm that the water's currently very deep and also very cold. It probably can/will get deeper, as a higher tideline was clearly visible.

However, a distinct lack of moral fibre meant that we went no further than the bottom of the lowest ladder. I'm just over 6' tall on a good day and I went into the water very tentatively one rung at a time. I called it a day at between waist and nipple deep as I was still on the ladder at that stage. The blue polyprop rope mentioned earlier, leading from the base of the ladder was visible though, but all in all there was no 'hwyl' for further ochre water exploration today. What's clearly needed is an in situ canadian canoe on a haul line......
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I'm five foot nine and in places it was shoulder deep. Did the trip in 2013 so not fresh in my mind but I recall getting plunged into water somewhere between chest and shoulder, it then getting a bit deeper then progressively shallower, eventually exiting the water for the crawls and finally the ladders up.

A Canadian wouldn't work; too many corners to go round, and not enough roof clearance in sections. Also the water is decidedly gloopy in places and that might make hauling at a distance hard work.

There's nothing for it but to - as somebody used to say - man up and go for it

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my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by
IP: 213.205.242.227

I'm five foot nine and in places it was shoulder deep ... Hmm ... I don't think Simon is doing a good job of selling this. He makes it sound like Caplecleugh (where in places I was having to float) but with added 'gloop'.

It's a trip I keep thinking I'd like to do 'someday', but I'm 5' 4" or thereabouts (I'm possibly shorter than Margot) so I think I would need some sort of floatation aid (or a snorkel).

Hmm ... I don't think Simon is doing a good job of selling this. He makes it sound like Caplecleugh (where in places I was having to float) but with added 'gloop'.

It's a trip I keep thinking I'd like to do 'someday', but I'm 5' 4" or thereabouts (I'm possibly shorter than Margot) so I think I would need some sort of floatation aid (or a snorkel).

The lower half of the 'water' is ochre gloop and the upper half is watery ochre.

It's not an entirely unpleasant experience as long as you don't mind the all-over 'Scouse tan' for a few days afterwards - but then again I'm over 6ft: if I was 5'4" I think the memories might keep me awake at night...

As for a Canadian canoe: good luck getting it there! I doubt anything useful would fit through Roy's dig on Fl 2 - and the squeezes after that are twisty enough that even a big tackle sack starts to become a hassle.

If it is at all possible to explore the adit inbye there is a section of plankway over understoping. There are traverse lines that I put in.

When I did this and reached the far side I saw a solitary set of footprints in the ochre. Whoever it had been had obviously got in from the other side, explored as far as the plankway, looked at it, had second thoughts, then turned back.

Who was it?When was it?and How the devil did they get in from the other side?

Ah, I read something on the interweb about someone getting in via Cwffty western shaft in the 70s / 80s - possibly Aberystwyth Caving Club?

Unsure about ACC but people used to do through trips, I had a conversation with someone once about it.I was once in Western Shaft at adit level and was talking to people on the surface, I had to assure them I was OK lest they went off and did something silly like calling out rescue.

The last time I was there Cwffty adit could only be explored for a short distance due to stuff coming down. Also part of the 10 fthm was no longer accessible. This is the bit with the interesting false floors.The real prize is Western Shaft with the great big clack boxes

I really hanker for a trip in there, but have 'things' on the boil elsewhere, and would like to get these 'things' completed for NAMHO.

I now have a secret weapon for the photography. The 32K torch!

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"You are not consumers, you are the product" Google and Facebook, Masters of the Universe
IP: 88.106.230.184

Lumens. I can take decent pics hand held on ordinary auto setting with my XP120. I have had some water penetration at the charge socket on the torch, but wrapping it in PVC tape fixed that. It proved its usefulness already.

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"You are not consumers, you are the product" Google and Facebook, Masters of the Universe
IP: 88.106.230.184

On the bike recently and noticed there seems to be some sort of construction work going on near cyffty? does anyone know the extent of this and if it effects the mine at all?

Dam stabilisation on the other side of the road. Recent changes of legislation regarding dam structural inspections mean that all dams now required regular safety inspections. Previously the inspection regime depended on the volume of water retained.

So, what happens when you start inspecting things that never previously needed inspecting....?

You find "defects".

And what do "defects" mean?

Why, more reports, consultation fees and more safety-related maintenance work of course!

That's the reason the road through Cwm Machno quarry to Rhiwbach has been improved. Regular inspections will take place of the flooded pit at the southern end of the Rhiwbach site. Inspectors will drive as far as the new footbridge and walk the rest of the way. There are going to be marker posts to guide them in bad weather. I don't know how long the road will last before the surface gets washed away though.

Can I correct this slightly. The latest legislation has brought the minimum volume of reservoirs that full under the act down to 10,000 cubic metres bringing a number of old reservoirs within the scope of the act.
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Can I correct this slightly. The latest legislation has brought the minimum volume of reservoirs that full under the act down to 10,000 cubic metres bringing a number of old reservoirs within the scope of the act.

Pedant. Apologies.

I'll correct your typo then.

"...reservoirs that fall under the act..." rather than "...reservoirs that full under the act..."?